Why you should buy this car: Handling, handling, handling, five-speed manual and handling. And while I find the appearance of the Fusion only half-baked, I know there are those out there who think it snazzy looking. The low price and relatively large size are a rarity in today's autodom. A similarly equipped Accord LX…

Why you should buy this car: Some people still care about buying American, and maybe you're one of those people. Even if you're not, the Caliber is a solid all-around people- and cargo-hauler for a pretty affordable price. Plus, it will keep your fitness water cold for when you get back from that killer mountain bike…

Why You Should Buy This Car: You are passionate about driving. You like embarrassing Solstice drivers. Power slides are your thing. You drift in your sleep. You understand that for the money, this is the best car on the road.

Why you should buy this car: You're the type of person who thinks "Jeep" is a cartoon character named Eugene from the 1930's Popeye comic strip. You're someone who doesn't give a rat's ass what other people think about them and wants an inexpensive and useful vehicle to go from one place to the next — sometimes even…

Why you should buy this car: All that watching "Top Gear" has you believing British cars truly are the best in the world. You want a classy, fast, comfortable full-size luxury car that doesn't have an aftertaste of bratwurst.

Why you should buy this car: It's exactly what the car you need, even though you think you need a midsize SUV. That, and you've had an attachment to Volkswagens ever since that weird guy who hung around your high school parking lot offered you a ride home in his microbus.

Why you should buy this car: The Mercury Milan is a decent value and a stylish alternative to blandmobiles like the Camry and Impala. Plus, it's almost fun to drive. And you can feel all warm and fuzzy about buying American, even if it's made in Mexico.

Why you should buy this car: Although the '06 Altima is not quite "the cure for the common car" (I'm going with the Pagani Zonda), it's about as peppy a family four-door as money can buy — especially now that the '07 refresh is on its way and big discounts on '06's are on offer.

Why you should buy this car: The Five Hundred is exactly what middle America needs: an old school Yank tank with reasonable gas mileage and laudable safety. If you re in the cop or carriage trade, or have a wife whose idea of packing light squares with Joan Collins , the Five Hundred s cavernous trunk will whale your…

Why you should buy this car: For a commodious family four-door, the Fusion s priced right, undercutting its rivals by some margin. (Depreciation is another matter.) The Fusion s also a bit of a handler, both nimble and tenacious through the twisties.

Why you should buy this car: Because you collect Star Wars memorabilia. Either that or you appreciate all the traditional Civic virtues — practicality, frugality, reliability, comfort, value, invisibility, etc. — and want something relatively slow that handles like a go-kart.

Why you should buy this car: The MX-5 is the bonsai tree of sports cars: a perfectly formed thrashmobile writ small. All the roadster s major controls work with infinite precision and perfect linearity. There s so much intimate feedback through the wheel, pedals and seat that the Moroni Monroney [window sticker]…

Why you shouldn t buy this car: With the top down, the PT Convertible looks a bit like a bathtub with a handle. The PT chop top is also so not a driver s car. Although plenty quick and flat through the turns, the front-driver has more body flex than Mr. Universe. The cruising range is limited by the small gas tank and…

Why you shouldn t buy this car: For oxymoronic minivan enthusiasts in search of practicality, handling, refinement and resale value, the similarly accelerative Honda Odyssey rules (just make sure you can get comfortable in the driver s chair). All the other people carriers boast more user-friendly, versatile…

Why you shouldn t buy this car: The 325i is not exactly handsome or particularly well-built, and there are plenty of meticulously-crafted, spicy hot Japanese sports sedans swirling around that give you more of everything for a lot less money.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: Chevy s new Vette is still plastic craptastic, and the Vette s image remains resolutely down-market. Amongst the sports car fraternity, the model still identifies its driver as a muscle head who doesn t know any better, or a middle-aged man who desperately wants to shag a woman younger…

Why you shouldn t buy this car: The Toyota Highlander Hybrid isn't a real SUV. You can't tote much, climb much or feel entirely comfortable driving it wearing work boots. By the same token, it isn't a hybrid sedan, which gets at least 10 more mpg around town. It is, in fact, a deeply dull, environmental "tweenie."…